Breasts

Look at any magazine or movie and you will be able to see straight away what breasts are!

Breasts are two mounds of flesh which grow on the chest of girls as they reach puberty.

Inside the breasts are glands which will be able to make milk if a woman has a baby, and also cells containing fat.

They feel a bit soft and spongy and start to grow when a girl reaches puberty.

As the hormone oestrogen (say eest-tra-jen) begins to circulate round the body, a girl's ovaries start to make hormones and her breasts start to grow.

When a woman has a baby, her breasts produce milk to feed her baby. All sizes of breasts can produce milk for the baby.

Boys have breasts too, but usually they stay flat. Some boys develop tissue behind their nipples during puberty, but this flattens again when they have reached the end of puberty. Our topic 'Boys' breasts' can tell you more if you are worried.

Why wear a bra?No-one needs to wear a bra, but bras protect and support breasts, they help to make you feel comfortable when you are dashing around doing sport, they can help a girl feel good by giving a shape that she likes to her body and they can make a girl feel less self conscious when wearing tee shirts around those 'immature' boys in her class or friendship group.

(Boys can be such a pain sometimes, twanging bra straps and making silly comments - can't they? Make sure that you tell them right away that you do not appreciate their comments and any more will be harassment!)

So what kind of first bra will you buy?Sports bras are a great first bra because they are comfortable, they don't dig in anywhere and they hold the breast firmly.

Many tops have a sort of 'built-in' bra so that you may not need to buy a bra at first.

Girls with large breasts may find that underwire bras provide more support.

Well you don't. Most women choose to wear a bra to feel comfortable, give a shape they want and to give support to the breasts.

Do all girls get breasts

All girls do get breasts, although some may be small. This can be because of genes, because the girl is a small person or very thin, or because the girl is an athlete and trains hard.

What is the stuff that comes out of breasts before the milk comes

When a woman has had a baby, the first fluid is called 'colostrum' and as well as being very good food for the baby, it contains lots of antibodies which protect the baby from disease.

I'm bigger than most of the girls in my class. I get embarrassed and feel like people are staring at me.What can I do

Don't worry. You have probably developed early and your friends will soon catch up over the next few years. Tell people who are unkind that the word for what they are doing is harassment, and you should tell the teacher about it. If you are really worried, go and talk to your doctor.

Is it normal to have one breast bigger than the other

It is common for one breast to be different to the other. They may be different sizes or shapes. Our bodies may seem to be symmetrical (where one side is exactly the same as the other – only reversed) but they are often not symmetrical. For example one foot may be a different length to another, eyes may be slightly different shapes or colours and it is common for male testes to be different sizes too.

This is nothing to worry about. Try different types and shapes of bra until you find one that suits your breasts and gives you the look and comfort that you want.

Why do long hairs grow around the nipple

It is fairly common for some long straight hairs to grow from the areola [the area of darker skin around the nipple]. This is caused by 'sex' hormones that are traveling around in your body. You will notice that you are getting more hair in other areas of your body too. If you are worried about it go and have a talk with your doctor.

Why do my nipples not stick out They sort of sink in to my breast.

This is called an inverted nipple. There is nothing wrong and it should not be a problem even when you are older and have a baby who you want to breastfeed.

In older women, if their nipples normally stick out but they then become inverted, and stay that way, they need to check it out with their doctor.

Mum says she checks her breasts every month by looking at them and feeling them to make sure that she has no lumps that could be breast cancer. Should I do the same or wait until I am olderBreast cancer is very rare in young women but it is still a good idea to get to know your breasts. Then if there are any changes you can go to see your doctor to find out what is happening.

My breasts feel sore sometimes. Is this normalBreasts may feel sore when they are starting to develop and before a period. Or it may be that you need a larger bra cup.

"Breasts are signs that girls are developing into women. If you are worried about anything to do with your breasts, the good thing is that every woman knows what it is like to start growing breasts, so you have plenty of people to talk to!Everyone grows at her own rate so don't worry if everyone else in your class has breasts and you don't - you will in time. If you are really worried then go and have a chat with your doctor."

If you want to know about the changes in your body then look at our topics on Puberty.

We've provided this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.